Heavy rain brought traffic across Delhi to a near standstill on Thursday, with waterlogging and slow-moving vehicles reported from India Gate and ITO to Mandi House, south Delhi, Model Town, Palam and AIIMS. The disruption affected cars, buses and three-wheelers on several of the capital’s busiest roads.
Long queues were reported at Mandi House Circle, where visuals showed vehicles packed tightly together. Commuters claimed on social media that traffic personnel were not present to regulate movement at the junction. At India Gate, one commuter said traffic had remained stuck for nearly 30 minutes as the rain intensified.
The ITO area also faced congestion along the Vikas Marg-ITO stretch and on roads linking ITO with the Supreme Court and Bharat Mandapam. Heavy traffic was reported near the Supreme Court, while waterlogging was seen near Mandi House and Geeta Colony. The combination of standing water, reduced visibility and high traffic volumes slowed movement across central Delhi.
In south Delhi, vehicles queued from the Chirag Delhi red light towards IIT Delhi and Hauz Khas. Commuters also reported congestion near the Ashram flyover exit towards Sarai Kale Khan and Sunlight Colony. Traffic around Okhla Phase 1 was allegedly worsened by encroachments and construction materials stored on footpaths, according to complaints cited in the report.
Model Town witnessed heavy congestion during end-of-school hours, with waterlogging adding to the disruption. Traffic snarls were also reported around Palam and AIIMS, extending the impact beyond central and south Delhi. The spread of reported choke points indicated that the rain affected multiple commuting corridors at the same time rather than creating an isolated junction-level delay.
In response to a commuter complaint, the Delhi Traffic Police said the matter had been forwarded to the concerned traffic circle for action. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for moderate rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in the capital. Dark clouds remained over the city through much of the day as rainfall continued to affect road conditions and traffic movement.
